TBU Rector and the Governor of the Zlín Region Officially Opened the New Academic Year
10. September 2025On Monday 8 September 2025, the Faculty of Humanities at Tomas Bata University in Zlín (TBU) hosted the official opening ceremony for the 2025/26 academic year of the Department of Health Care Sciences.
Among the distinguished guests were Prof. Mgr. Milan Adámek, Ph.D., Rector of TBU; Mgr. Libor Marek, Ph.D., Dean of the Faculty; and Ing. Radim Holiš, Governor of the Zlín Region, who came in person to support students of non-medical healthcare disciplines. In his speech, he emphasised the vital role of healthcare professions, highlighted the ongoing shortage of qualified personnel, and pledged the Regional Authority’s support in educating new professionals. He also paid special tribute to MUDr. Olga Sehnalová, MBA, former Deputy Governor for Healthcare and currently the coordinator of healthcare programmes at TBU, who played a key role in establishing the new degree programme in Paramedicine.
The ceremonial gathering was also attended by Mgr. Jana Martincová, Ph.D., MBA, Vice-Dean for Studies; PhDr. Petr Snopek, Ph.D., MBA, Vice-Dean for Lifelong Learning and Practice; and Mgr. Věra Vránová, Ph.D., Director of the Institute of Health Sciences. Together, they welcomed first-year students of the Bachelor’s programmes in General Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care, and – for the first time – Paramedicine. Students of the newly accredited follow-up Master’s programme in Home and Hospice Care will begin their studies at the Faculty of Humanities on Friday 12 September 2025.
The Department of Health Care Sciences is currently the largest department within the faculty – both in terms of student numbers and academic staff. It currently educates more than 640 students across the following degree programmes:
- 343 students in General Nursing,
- 98 future midwives,
- 93 students in Health and Social Care,
- 55 students in the newly launched Paramedicine programme,
- 52 students in Home and Hospice Care.
The celebratory atmosphere was brought to a close with a message of encouragement from PhDr. Anna Krátká, Ph.D., the academic coordinator of the Home and Hospice Care programme. She wished students strength, determination, and success in their studies, ending her speech with the famous Bata motto: “If you want it, you can achieve it.” In his address, Dean Marek stressed the importance of non-medical healthcare degree programmes for the faculty and acknowledged the contributions of both the Governor and the Rector in securing accreditation for the Paramedic degree programme. “Our students now have a wide range of exciting opportunities ahead. Their instruction will be led by a team of highly qualified professionals; they will take part in generously funded placements in hospitals and social care facilities, and will have the chance to study abroad. Even during their studies, they will come to understand the ethos of healthcare professions – that of selfless service to others,” Marek noted.
The academic year will gradually begin at the University’s other five faculties in the coming days.
